OCR Text |
Show THE STREET CAR SERVICE. Editor Truth: Such a corporation as a street railway rail-way company should be, and in most cities, is a public utility. Its existence exist-ence on a city's thoroughfares is justified, only to the extent that it f , serves the people, to the degree that its usefulness compensates for its objectionable features otherwise, it i f j. can only be classified as a public nui sance, a disturber of the peace, and a menace to human life. Wc judge an individual by his per- j sonal appearance, by his acts and the principles by which his conduct Js actuated. If a man is shabby and un-I un-I couth, is rude and jostling in manner, f' and openly endorses base measures, wc arc obliged to assign him a low degree of the quality called culture. j Wc have a right to apply the same ' tests to other things. "" A stranger visiting a city is first impressed by the style of the depot (at which he arrives, and next by the kind of street car he boards. If it makes him scan the bakc-shops he passes and long for a square meal, I he begins to be prejudiced and won- i der if this is not an intrigue in favor of the delicatessen; but this slight impression is destined o deepen, when, upon asking for a transfer as he might in Chicago or Denver, he is met with a curt "too late," and so pays his fare twice. And when, as a sort of "amen" or "thank you" to his previous treatment, he is dutnpec. off in the deepest mud-hole this side the crossing and so obliged to get a shine before looking respectable, he docs not feel inclined to boom Salt Lake. A stranger's feeling regarding the street-car service meted out to us, aside from the significant fact that he is unconsciously judging the whole city py his criterion, is worthy of note inasmuch as it mirrors that of our long-suffering citizens. Appar-cnly Appar-cnly no effort is made to please the public you can ride if disposed to conform to certain unreasonable regulations reg-ulations laid down without regard to the comfort or convenience of patrons, or, "if you don't like it take an automobile," the advice recently given by a conductor to two ladies-forced ladies-forced to wade in mud nearly to their shoe tops. And then the way the cars in some places and at regular times arc jammed, when a little more frequent service would obviate the discomfort if not disgrace, looks like a standing announcement of "the people to be hanged." Competition always implies at least one blessing it makes courteous treatment on 'he part of those seeking seek-ing patronage profitable, and stimulates stimu-lates an effort to please instead of disgusting those forced to partake of the service rendered. E. E. II. |